Mother of 15-year-old boy 'who masterminded plot to have her killed by his friend, 13,' pledges to stand by him

A devastated mother has pledged to stand by her 15-year-old son after he allegedly masterminded a plot to have her murdered because he hated being
forced to attend a posh all-boys' school.

Erik Stone and his 13-year-old friend Marko Lazovic are said to have conspired by text message to have the older boy's mother Eliana Poveda killed.

Ms Poveda was allegedly attacked with a steak knife by the younger boy who was lying in wait as she dropped Stone off at his
father's house.

Happier times: Eliana Poveda has pledged to stand by her 15-year-old son Erik Stone, after he and his younger friend allegedly plotted to murder her

The teenager is said to have stood by as his mother tried to fight off Lazovic, during the attack last Friday in Miami, Florida,
but failed to step in and 'finish the job' when the knife snapped
after striking her collar bone.

He had allegedly assured Lazovic, who fled when the plan failed, that he would intervene and kill his mother if he failed to do as he was told.

It is claimed the pair had co-ordinated the attack by texting each other's mobile
phones during the car journey to the Miami Beach home of Stone's father.

Today Ms Poveda pledged to stand by her son on an American news
program despite the terrifying knife attack, describing him as the
'light of her life' and urging people to pray for him.

Police claim Stone wanted his mother dead because he hated being
forced to attend a posh all-boys' school, and enlisted the help of his
younger pal.

Plea: Eliana Poveda holding up a picture of her son on TV

The brace-wearing student apparently felt he 'didn't fit in' at the school he had just started.

Lazovic had also been told he would be initiated into Stone's
exclusive club 'The Sons of Anarchy' if he cut his mother's throat,
according to police.

The younger boy was arrested soon after he fled.

Subsequent interviews unravelled the alleged plot.

Poveda, who escaped with minor wounds, told WSVN news: 'My son could
not have been in the right mind at the moment. 'I don't know, I'm not
a psychiatrist. I don't know what was going on inside his head, but he
does love me, absolutely. 'There is no question about that. I know he
loves me.'

Police said Lazovic was lying in wait in the driveway of Stone's father's house when the attack happened.

'As soon as she walked passed the gate of the property, the
13-year-old took a swing at her with a steak knife, which broke on her
collar bone,' said Miami Beach Police Detective Juan Sanchez.

'He then proceeded to strike her several times as well.'

Eliana Poveda managed to escape the knife attack with just eight cuts

Poveda, who suffered eight cuts in total, said: 'It was like a
dance, a very fast dance because he would launch with the knife and I
would turn sideways.

'He (Erik) is so good and so smart, and I hope that we can get him whatever help (he needs).

'My pain is for him. I am very concerned about what he is going through right now.

'What is going through his mind? How is he feeling? I'm OK. I'm just hurting for him.'

Stone has been charged with solicitation to commit murder and
Lazovic has been charged with attempted first-degree murder. Both are
in custody.

Poveda's Facebook page shows her and her son looking happy in family photographs taken on Christmases and birthdays.

They are seen hugging and in one caption, she describes Erik as 'the light of my life'.

Under Florida laws, police are permitted to release the identity of juveniles when they are charged with a felony.

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Mother of 15-year-old boy 'who masterminded plot to have her killed by his friend, 13,' pledges to stand by him